2015 Silverado - Issues Starting

[Mac11wildcat]

Looking for any and all help here.

My 2015 Silverado 5.2 had troubles starting intermittently; turn key, solenoid clicks, nothing turns over.

Replaced the starter myself with a brand new OEM starter. Next few days started first turn zero hesitation.

A week later and the intermittent issues is back. After about 50 key turns it finally started today and seems like something is “sticking” because after it starts once it starts up again no problem. Long periods off seem to be an issue.

Any help is appreciated as I’m quite confused by this.

 

[BigTomJ]

when you turn the key do you hear the starter engaging? or just nothing?

if its a new starter and its not engaging than i would suspect an electrical issue.

can try throwing a meter on the hot coming into the starter and see if its grounding out to rule out some kind of fault.

 

[Fattyone]

Did you notice if the connector on the starter solenoid was cracked/in rough shape?

Battery terminals clean and tight? I’d also check the fuse block connections from the battery.

A lot of these years had tons of issues with the actual battery cables but they symptoms don’t line up perfectly with that.. but always a chance.

Does the failure to start happen when it’s warm? (Like it’s been driven a while and then you let it sit a little bit?)

 

[Fattyone]

After about 50 key turns it finally started today and seems like something is “sticking” because after it starts once it starts up again no problem. Long periods off seem to be an issue.

Just read it again. This seems like a poor connection somewhere, at the battery, starter, junction block, main grounds etc.

Also have you had the battery tested? I’ve seen some internally shorted batteries do some really weird things.

Edit:

Also have you had a scanner hooked up to it yet? Not a code reader from Autozone but something a little better? I’d be curious to know if there was any codes stored in the BCM

 

[Mac11wildcat]

when you turn the key do you hear the starter engaging? or just nothing?

if its a new starter and its not engaging than i would suspect an electrical issue.

can try throwing a meter on the hot coming into the starter and see if its grounding out to rule out some kind of fault.

Starter solenoid clicks every single key turn. The issue is exactly like when the old starter was in so I think the starters ruled out.

 

[Mac11wildcat]

Did you notice if the connector on the starter solenoid was cracked/in rough shape?

Battery terminals clean and tight? I’d also check the fuse block connections from the battery.

A lot of these years had tons of issues with the actual battery cables but they symptoms don’t line up perfectly with that.. but always a chance.

Does the failure to start happen when it’s warm? (Like it’s been driven a while and then you let it sit a little bit?)

Everything *looks* OK at the battery and such. Issue seems to happen most when it’s hot and humid out, and ONLY happens when the truck itself has sat for an extended period.

Per your second post, testing the battery and checking codes is my next step, jsut wanted to make sure I wasn’t ruling out something stupid.

 

[Fattyone]

Everything *looks* OK at the battery and such. Issue seems to happen most when it’s hot and humid out, and ONLY happens when the truck itself has sat for an extended period.

Per your second post, testing the battery is my next step, jsut wanted to make sure I wasn’t ruling out something stupid.

Go physically grab all the connections. Just trace them as far as you can easily go, start at the battery. See if anything moves. Also look for corrosion

Have you had the battery tested

 

[Wpr1776]

You said once the starter was replaced it worked for a week then went bad again correct? If I am reading it correctly replacing the starter corrected the fault. Then started again. I would warranty the starter OEM parts can fail just like rebuilt parts. But best why to trouble shoot this fault is look for a drop of voltage at the starter. If the starter solenoid is engaging every time that eliminates signal input. Fault is low amps to starter or just a bad starter. But once again I am an idiot so take my advice with a grain of salt

 

[jdubzzz44]

Check the ground and power terminals on the battery it should be a screw in type I’ve seen can be loose or stripped out

 

[Fattyone]

Check the ground and power terminals on the battery it should be a screw in type I’ve seen can be loose or stripped out

Gm went away from the 78 series batteries about 15 years ago if memory serves me correctly.

 

[jdubzzz44]

Gm went away from the 78 series batteries about 15 years ago if memory serves me correctly.

My buddy just had an issue on his Chevy van which was a 12 or 13 so not too far off a 2015. Either way check the battery connections for being loose or any corrosion

 

[Fattyone]

My buddy just had an issue on his Chevy van which was a 12 or 13 so not too far off a 2015. Either way check the battery connections for being loose or any corrosion

The vans were the classic styles for a good bit longer than the rucks and SUV’s *I believe*. The trucks swapped to the reassessed top post on the passenger side by the firewall after the 07 classic I think, which prior to that was up front under the core support bar.

Either way hopefully it’s just a bad connection that’s easily fixable.

 

[Whopperflopper]

Battery.

 

[laclark89]

Not a mechanic but I'm some what mechanically inclined, most likely electrical sounds like a relay or solenoid. It's a 5.3 right ? I have a 2012 avalanche and I think its the same engine an all.

 

[Mac11wildcat]

Not a mechanic but I'm some what mechanically inclined, most likely electrical sounds like a relay or solenoid. It's a 5.3 right ? I have a 2012 avalanche and I think its the same engine an all.

Yeah 5.3, 5.2 was a typo

 

[Fattyone]

think its the same engine an all.

Pretty different actually. But still a 5.3

 

[Mac11wildcat]

To further add to the confusion it’s undefeated at starting with the auto starter. Going to test for real on a cold start tomorrow morning.

 

[Fattyone]

To further add to the confusion it’s undefeated at starting with the auto starter. Going to test for real on a cold start tomorrow morning.

Have you done/checked any of the things we’ve mentioned so far?

Always starts with the auto start huh? Has it ever shut off once you get in and turn the key on?

 

[Mac11wildcat]

Have you done/checked any of the things we’ve mentioned so far?

Always starts with the auto start huh? Has it ever shut off once you get in and turn the key on?

Never shut off. And no I don’t have troubleshooting time today. Usually has to wait for the weekend. Will check all I can.

 

[Cats13]

I would definitely check battery, maybe not enough juice to get starter going. Try jumping it it to see if it starts right away. Sometimes faulty alternator or alternator ground cable not charging the battery can be misdiagnosed Or a bad starter relay